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Original poster

are you going to vote yes or no in the referendum on voting systems?

67 replies

edam · 03/07/2010 12:46

Apparently on 5th May next year we'll be asked if we want to keep first past the post or go for alternative vote.

Personally I don't like AV where you rank candidates in order of preference, as it causes odd things to happen. FPTP isn't perfect but neither is AV.

But my main reason for - probably - voting 'no' would that I'm pissed off with the Lib Dems. This is their cherished prize for giving the Tories cover for savage attacks on the poor and public services and betraying many/most of their voters (and people who were tempted to vote for them). So fuck 'em.

OP posts:
GiddyPickle · 04/07/2010 12:48

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GiddyPickle · 04/07/2010 12:36

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NetworkGuy · 04/07/2010 12:34

"I'm amazed by the apathy. This post has been here for 7 hours, but only has 6 replies."

a) we don't yet know what question will be asked

b) while it is posted here, there has as yet been nothing proposed in Parliament, and while it is likely to get voted for, there may be various amendments (or a surge in numbers to keep the 'First past the Post' system in place, in which case there may still be no referendum)

c) whatever the weather where you are, the weather in many parts this side of the Irish Sea has been nice and sunny, so perhaps Saturday afternoon is being used for "outdoor" activities, and if indoor, with Wimbledon Women's Final on TV, there may be plenty of other distractions to MN.

FWIW I see lots more activity in the evenings than during the day, and Saturdays register as perhaps the least busy "day" of all.

FWIW, I will wait to see what the question is, if it gets through a vote. It will also depend (since I am in Wales) as to what objections are made from the Welsh Assembly Government and Scotland's Parliament, as to whether it will go ahead in May 2011.

Just seems far too early to discuss, in my view, as there's a long way to go before we can be sure there will be a referendum that day.

LeninGoooaaall · 04/07/2010 11:00

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Chil1234 · 04/07/2010 10:51

Does anyone know if there has to be a minimum turnout in a referendum for the result to be valid? Few people bother to vote in the local elections as it is and I can't see this referendum boosting the turnout.

GiddyPickle · 03/07/2010 22:57

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ilovemydogandMrObama · 03/07/2010 20:11

The Lib Dems have shown they are not the 3rd party, which is such a sad state of affairs as it's bad for democracy.

Problem is that no one will know what AV looks like until/if it's implemented as impossible to predict people's first,second choices.

hocuspontas · 03/07/2010 20:08

I'll vote yes. At the moment I don't vote in GEs because my vote doesn't count. I don't think it's the best answer to FPTP but it's a start

frakkit · 03/07/2010 20:04

I want to know exactly what they're proposing. I'm broadly in favour of PR and STV, think constituencies are important and think FPTP produces skewed results....

But AV doesn't necessarily mean it will be better. I would vote against AV+ (because it's purely theoretical) or a list system as I like the local voting for a specific candidate.

maryz · 03/07/2010 19:59

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GiddyPickle · 03/07/2010 19:56

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GiddyPickle · 03/07/2010 19:52

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nickelbabe · 03/07/2010 16:26

i'm voting for the alternative.

still don't think it's a perfect system, but it's a little bit fairer than first past the post.

longfingernails · 03/07/2010 16:17

edam

Here is a link which explains it very clearly

ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/electoral-bias

claig · 03/07/2010 13:36

I'll vote yes because it is the first step in giving us a real PR system where every vote counts and it's worth bothering to vote

Original poster
edam · 03/07/2010 13:34

Oh, that old canard. The current system is NOT biased in favour of any particular party. The entirely independent Boundary Commission changes the size of constituencies all the time in an attempt to keep up with population fluctuations (mine changed this time around and links two towns which have nothing to do with each other at all, just in order to get the numbers right).

It's not Labour's fault that the Tory vote stacks up in the shires nor that the Tories tend to win with bigger majorities. Maybe they should put more effort into persuading people in non-Tory areas and into getting their vote out in these areas?

OP posts:
longfingernails · 03/07/2010 13:11

I'm voting no because the most popular candidate is a more worthy winner in my opinion than the least unpopular candidate. And I don't see how it is fair that in the majority of constituencies, a BNP supporter gets a second choice, but a Tory or Labour voter does not.

But I'm not hugely bothered. The constituency link is maintained, which is the most important element in my opinion.

Much more important is equalising every constituency size to within 1000 voters or so.

This has the pleasant side effect of removing some, though not all, of the pro-Labour bias in the current FPTP system